Bye, Argan! Prickly Pear is THE Skincare Ingredient of 2015

There’s nothing we love more than a good, do-it-all oil—which might explain our obsession over argan and coconut oil-everything last year (and, fine, currently). But there’s a new kid on the face oil block, and it might just make the popular kids old news—think of it as the Instagram to argan oil’s Foursquare (sorry, Foursquare). We’re talking about prickly pear seed oil, a highly-moisturizing, skin-softening oil derived from a cactus. Keep scrolling to learn everything you need to know about this superstar ingredient, and shop our favourite picks!

To help us understand all the benefits of prickly pear, we spoke with Munemi Imai, founder of the celeb-favorite prickly pear-based skincare line, Mun. “Prickly pear is extremely high in essential fatty acids, Omega 6 and 9, and the natural antioxidant vitamin e,” she tells us. “It’s also rich in amino acids, which stimulate collagen production to promote faster cell turnover. And finally, it also contains vitamin k, which brightens under-eye dark circles and also promote your skin’s elasticity.” Kypris, another natural skincare line that features prickly pear in their Beauty Elixirs, claims that prickly pear oil contains 150% of the vitamin e in argan oil, and is more sustainable.

As for who can benefit prickly pear seed oil, Imai says, pretty much anyone. “As a long-time makeup artist, I’ve tested so many products over the years, yet when I came across this oil, I was amazed by just how fast it made a difference in my skin,” she raves. “It’s great for all skin types, and especially great for mature skin. It’s a wonderful oil for both people who want to start preventable care for anti-aging and people who address the signs of aging. You will feel the immediate skin-softening effects and your skin will glow.” Keep scrolling to shop our top prickly pear seed picks!